Covid-Induced Closure: Students suffer heavy learning losses

The pandemic-induced school closures took a heavy toll on education as 80 percent of class-8 students suffered learning losses in the subject of Bangla.

About 76 percent students in the same class had suffered losses in English and 69 percent in Mathematics, shows a government study by Bangladesh Examination Development Unit (BEDU) under Dhaka education board.

The study was done to assess learning losses caused by the closure of in-person classes in 2020 and 2021.

In-person classes in schools resumed in full swing in mid-March this year after over 720 days of closure in two phases between March 17, 2020 and March 2022. Closure of educational institutions to curb coronavirus spread in Bangladesh was among the longest in the world.

"Officials have submitted the report to the education ministry last week," said Tapan Kumar Sarkar, chairman of Dhaka education board.

BEDU did the assessment after taking online exams of about 14,000 class-8 students of 2021 and based on comments of 6,000 teachers.

BEDU held three online exams on Bangla, English and Mathematics in February.

LEARNING LOSS

In Bangla, 25 percent students had low levels of learning deficit, 31 percent medium levels and 24 percent high levels.

In English, 20 percent of the students had low levels of learning losses, 38 percent medium levels and 18 percent had high levels of education deficit.

In maths, 16 percent of the students had low levels of learning losses, 14 percent medium and 39 percent high.

The report suggested mandatory remedial classes for the students with medium and high levels of learning deficits in the subjects.

DISPARITIES

There was a significant disparity in learning losses between students in urban and rural areas, the study found. Thirty-six percent Class-8 students in urban areas suffered losses, compared to 43 percent in rural areas.

About 70 to 90 percent students of Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts have high level education deficits.

The availability of digital devices and internet access was also a strong factor in determining the degree of learning loss. Students with internet access and digital devices suffered 10 to 15 percent less learning loss than those who did not have these facilities.

The report recommended central remedial activities to make up for the learning losses.

As part of the central initiative, distance-learning activities such as broadcasting classes on television and online classes can be conducted.

Besides, a YouTube channel can be started where the lessons are uploaded.

Contacted, Secondary and Higher Education Division secretary Abu Bakr Siddique said they will take necessary steps to make up for the losses.

 A Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) joint study, published in October 2021 said that 3.96 million primary and 3.9 million secondary students -- a total of 7.86 million students -- were at risk of learning loss, due to the prolonged school closure caused by the pandemic.